Overview
- CDOT and safety advocates are urging extra caution in the week after clocks roll back, citing Environment Colorado’s finding of a 16% post-change rise in deer crashes.
- State records show at least 54,189 vehicle–wildlife collisions from 2010 through 2024, resulting in 48 vehicle-occupant deaths and more than 5,000 injuries.
- More than 3,600 collisions were recorded last year, with county hotspots identified in La Plata and Douglas.
- Officials say properly placed crossings paired with fencing can reduce crashes by up to 90%, with 75 crossings in service and a major I-25 Greenland overpass expected later this year.
- Drivers are advised to slow down, use headlights, increase following distance, watch for reflective eyes at road edges, and consider public transit during dusk hours.